Oil-well-drilling drive.



V. YORK.

OIL WELL DRILLING DRIVE.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. 1911.

1,297,289. Patehted Mar. 11, 1919.

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J 4 A Q 1 I 1" Z5 Z5 VICTOR YORK, 0F BREA, CALIFORNIA.

OIL-WELL-DRILLING DRIVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

HEISSUED Y Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Application filed April 11, 1917. Serial No. 161,363.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR YORK, a citizen of the United States, residing a Bre'a, in the county of Orange and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oil-Well-Drilling Drives, of which the following is a, specification.

My invention relates to the art of drilling oil wells, and more particularly to the art of drilling oil wells by the so-called rotarv system. In this system a string of pipe is rotated by a rotary table, this string of pipe carrying a suitable bit at its lower end, by means of which the oil is produced. In the present method of drilling wells the rotary table is mounted in suitable bearings located at or near the center of the derrick, this table being provided with a bevel gear which is driven from a bevel pinion carried on a short shaft. This shaft is driven through a chain from what is commonly called the draw works. This chain drive is a constant source of trouble, expense, and danger, as the breaking of the chain under tension results in a sudden whipping over of the broken ends which is extremely dangerous to the men in the derrick.

The principal object of my invention is to provide means for driving a rotary table without the use of chains. Furtl. er objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter;

In the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only: v

Figure 1 is a plan view of a derrick equipped with my invention, 'a portion of the draw works being omitted for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the engine being broken away for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the invention.

In the form of my invention shown in these drawings, a derrick 11 is illustrated, this derrick having a floor 12, supported on suitable sills 13. Supported in suitable bearings at or near the center of the derrick is a standard rotary table 14, this table being provided with a driven bevel gear 15. Meshing with the gear 15 is a driving bevel pinion 16, this pinion being mounted on a short shaft 17, turning in suitable bearings 18. The end of the shaft 17 is provided with a square portion 19 which fits inside an extension 20 on a drive shaft 21. Drive shaft 21 is mounted in a bearing 22 located close to the extension 20. i

' Mounted on an engine block 25 is an engine 26, this engine having an engine shaft 27 on which is fixed a sprocket 28.- The sprocket 28 drives the standard draw works 29 through a chain 30, the driving sprocket for the table 14 being, however, omitted from the standard draw works, 29.

Turning freely on the shaft 27 is a driving bevel gear 31, this gear meshing with a driven bevel pinion 32 which is mounted on the extreme end of the drive shaft 21. The drive shaft 21 is mounted in an outboard bearing 33. The outerend of the engine shaft 27 is mounted in outboard engine bearing 34. Located between the gear 31 and the bearing 34 is a jaw clutch 35, which is operated by levers 36.

The method of operation of the invention is as follows: i

The engine 26, which may be gas or steam or otherwise driven, being in operation, the draw works 29 are operated through the chain 30, and the ordinary methods of handling =pipe, etc. may be carried on in accordance with the present method. When it is desired to turn the table 14, the clutch 35 is thrown in gear so that the driving gear 31 operates the drive shaft 21 through the driven pinion 32. The power from the shaft 21 is transmitted to the shaft 17 through the extension 20 and the squared end 19 of the shaft 17. The shaft 17 drives the table 14 through the pinion 16 and the gear 15.

I claim as my invention:

1. A drive for the rotary pipe used in oil well drilling comprising a derrick floor, a table turning in suitable bearings and located at or near the center of the derrick floor; a driven bevel gear formed on said table; a driving bevel pinion meshing with said bevel gear; a drive shaft on which said driving bevel pinion is secured, said drive shaft extending across and off the derrick floor; an engine block located at one side of said derrick floor; an engine located on said engine block; a driving bevel gear secured on the shaft of said engine; and a driven bevel pinion meshing with said driving bevel gear and secured on the outboard end of said drive shaft.

2. Driving means for an oil well drilling outfit comprising a table through which the pipe passes and to which it is secured, a

22 naeaeee driven beveled gear formed on the table, a shaft, an engine located on said engine block 10 derrick door, a driving beveied pinion meshwith its shaft at right-angles to said driving ing with said driven bevel gear, a drive shaft shaft, and a driving beveled gear secured on on which said beveled pinion is secured, said engine shaft and meshing with said 5 bearings mounted on the derrick floor for driven beveled pinion.

supporting said drive shaft, an engine block, In testimony whereof I have hereunto 15 7 means for supporting the outer end of said set my hand at Los Angeies, California, this driving shaft on said engine block, a driven 2d day of April, 1917. beveled pinion mounted on the end of said VIC'IQR YQRK. 

